The Lightbulb

$1 in 1881= $23 in 2014

The Lightbulb

$1 in 1881= $23 in 2014

About the Invention

The inventor of the light bulb is most widely known as Edison, although there were three others who invented similar forms of this before him. Edison created the most accepted and plausible light bulb. He experimented with thousands of different filaments to find just the right materials to glow well and be long-lasting. In 1879, Edison discovered that a carbon filament in an oxygen-free bulb glowed but did not burn up for 40 hours. Edison eventually produced a bulb that could glow for over 1500 hours.

The light bulb was becoming more and more needed as the industrial business was becoming more prevalent. These businesses could stay open later and could create another shift for workers instead of having to close everything at sundown.

Why?

This invention was created so that we could essentially get rid of the candles, and gas lit things. This light would be brighter and more convenient than the earlier inventions. It was based around everyone's needs. It would create more night-time activities, because there would be light instead of darkness. Companies were greatly affected because now they do not have to close so early and can make more money by having longer business hours.

Thomas Edison

"I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others... I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent..."